Sri Lanka’s Athapaththu Focused on Adaptation Amidst T20 World Cup Pressure

In the midst of the Women’s T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka finds itself on challenging terrain following substantial losses to Pakistan and Australia. The team, which recently celebrated significant victories against England and in the Asia Cup, faces the daunting task of needing two wins, likely insufficient, to reach the semi-finals. A pivotal game against India awaits in Dubai.

Chamari Athapaththu, the Sri Lankan captain, has been vocal about the need for adaptation. “We can’t complain about the conditions as batters,” she stated decisively, highlighting the importance of adapting to different pitch conditions swiftly, following matches on Sharjah‘s slowing tracks.

In conversation with the press, Athapaththu credited players such as Natalie Sciver-Brunt and Laura Wolvaardt for their adaptability in similar conditions. She expressed her desire to step up her game in upcoming matches, addressing the disappointment from her scores of three and six in previous fixtures.

Athapaththu commented, “As a batter I love that challenge. I challenge myself and I want to play my best cricket in the next two games.” This sentiment echoed throughout the Sri Lankan squad as they prepare to confront India.

Reflecting on her past performance, notably a 43-ball 61 during the Asia Cup win, Athapaththu is determined to reclaim her aggressive form. “In the first game, the first over I scored a boundary against Sadia Iqbal,” she noted, recalling moments where she trusted rather than analyzed her game.

Athapaththu also compared both Sri Lanka and India’s ongoing batting struggles, asserting that her team aims to embrace its underdog status. She remarked, “We are not scoring many runs either… I feel like the Indian team is so good on wickets with pace and bounce, even my team.”

Despite the pressure, Sri Lanka intends to play ‘fearless cricket’. Athapaththu reiterated the need for simplicity in their approach, underscoring this as a pathway to potentially unsettling India in their upcoming clash.

In an environment fraught with high stakes and high pressure, the Sri Lankan squad enters the field in Dubai hoping their adaptability can turn the tides in Group A.